REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON Peace-Work-Fatherland
REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON Peace-Work-Fatherland
PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE
SECRETARIAT GENERAL
PRESS RELEASE
The Prime Minister, Head of Government, H.E. Joseph DION NGUTE, this Thursday, 23 April 2020, by videoconference, presided over the weekly meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee in charge of evaluating and monitoring the implementation of Government's response strategy against the COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon.
Discussions during this meeting focused on the following issues:
- an update on the evolution of COVID-19 in Cameroon;
- a review of measures taken to limit the spread of coronavirus in prisons;
- the repatriation of Cameroonians in distress abroad, following the closure of national borders;
- arrangements for the deployment of pupils and students in classrooms and amphitheatres, as from the indicative date for the resumption of classes on 1 June 2020.
At the end of the reports presented on these points by the competent Ministers, the following observations were made:
- Regarding the evolution of the coronavirus in Cameroon, 1,334 cases have already been recorded in 8 Regions of our country. To date, 668 people have been healed and 43 deaths have been recorded. The response strategy at work ensures a progressive control of this pandemic in Cameroon, despite its geographical spread.
- With regard to the measures taken to limit the spread of COVID-19 in prisons, the Minister of State, Minister of Justice, and Keeper of the Seals, indicated that the application of the provisions of the presidential decree of 15 April 2020 on the commutation and remission of sentences to certain prisoners will help to decongest the country's prisons and, consequently,
SERVICES DU PREMIER MINISTRE SECRETARIAT GÉNÉRAL DIRECTION DES AFFAIRES ADMINISTRATIVES ET DES REQUÊTES COPIE CERTIFIÉE CONFORME
reduce the risk of the spread of the coronavirus in prisons. Moreover, the measures already taken to protect prisoners against this virus include the suspension of outside chores; the establishment of observation cells for suspicious cases; the launch of prison disinfection operations and the application of barrier gestures.
- With regard to the situation of Cameroonians in distress abroad, the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul BIYA, has instructed the Government to repatriate them, with expenses covered by the State. To date, a first contingent of 675 Cameroonians have already been repatriated since the closure of national borders on 18 March 2020, while 668 others are still stranded abroad. Negotiations are underway, at the behest of the Minister of External Relations, for the organization of special flights, with the support of the countries and diplomatic representations of Cameroon concerned, with a view to repatriating the second contingent in the days ahead.
In the same vein, the Government is facilitating the repatriation of foreigners wishing to return to their respective countries.